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Texans DE J.J. Watt Named AFC Defensive Player of the Month

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Houston Texans DE J.J. Watt was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month after leading the NFL in sacks (6) and forced fumbles (4) in December.

Watt’s six sacks in December increased his NFL-leading total to 20.5 on the season. He became the ninth player in NFL history to record 20 or more sacks in a season. Watt forced a fumble in four consecutive games to tie a franchise single-season record.

Watt posted a breakout performance in Houston’s division-clinching game against Indianapolis in Week 15. He sacked Colts QB Andrew Luck three times, tallied 13 tackles, and forced a fumble. It marked his seventh multi-sack game of the season.

In the regular season finale at Indianapolis, Watt recorded his 16th pass defensed of the season to establish an NFL record for a defensive lineman. He is the only player in NFL history to record at least 15 sacks and 15 passes defensed in the same season.

Watt is the third Texan to win multiple player of the month honors, joining RB Arian Foster (October 2011, September 2010) and WR Andre Johnson (October 2008, November 2012). He was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month for September when he led the NFL in sacks (7.5) and helped the Texans to a 4-0 record. Watt is the first Texan to win the player of the month award twice in one season.